Geoff Lanier was announced as the Toledo women's basketball associate head coach in May 2024.
Lanier helped with Toledo’s strong efforts on the defensive end in his first season, helping Toledo hold 13 opponents under 60 points in 2024-25. Toledo also allowed just 81 three-point field goals in conference games, second-fewest in the MAC. Toledo was also strong on the glass, with a +6.6 rebound margin, which ranked 27th in the country and second in the MAC. Sammi Mikonowicz was ninth in the MAC with a rebound average of 6.5.
Lanier helped guide four different MAC selections in 2024-25, with Nan Garcia taking Sixth Player of the Year, Mikonowicz grabbing Second Team All-MAC, Kendall Carruthers taking Honorable Mention All-MAC and Faith Fedd-Robinson with an All-Freshman pick.
Lanier’s efforts helped Toledo to a 24-9 record overall and a 13-5 mark in the MAC. The Rockets reached the MAC Tournament Championship Game as the No. 2 seed and earned a second-consecutive bid to the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.
Geoff Lanier brings 30 years of collegiate coaching experience to Toledo, having served as an assistant coach at the Division I level for nine different institutions, previously serving at Monmouth, Loyola Maryland, Rutgers, Penn State, Cincinnati, Kent State, Boston College, Ohio and Akron. In 2023-24, he helped Monmouth to a runner-up finish in the Coastal Athletic Association standings with a 22-10 (14-4 CAA) record and a second-round appearance in the WNIT. He also helped coach CAA Sixth Player of the Year Jania Hall, Third Team All-CAA picks Kaci Donovan and Ariana Vanderhoop and All-Defensive Team selection Belle Kranbuhl.
"I could not be more thrilled to welcome Geoff, Kim and Madison to our program," Head Coach Ginny Boggess said. "While his resume speaks for itself, Team Toledo will love Geoff's infectious energy. A proven recruiter with experience at the highest levels, his attention to detail in player development and game preparation is second-to-none. Geoff knows my system well and will be a catalyst for our team on the court and in the community."
"My wife Kim, daughter Madison and I could not be more excited about joining the Rocket family!" said Lanier. "I would like to thank Coach Boggess and the Toledo administration for the opportunity to be a part of a program in Toledo women's basketball that has been the gold standard both on and off the court. I'm looking forward to working with Coach Boggess, our staff and student-athletes to continue the tradition of excellence and build upon what is already a great program."
Lanier helped Rutgers to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 2020 and 2021 as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator, with the Scarlet Knights posting a 36-14 record across those two seasons. He also brought in a top-10 recruiting class to Piscataway, according to Blue Star Basketball and ESPN in 2020. He saw recruiting success in the Big Ten with Penn State (2018-19) as well, putting together the No. 12 recruiting class in the country in 2018.
With the Bearcats (2016-18), Lanier recruited and coached the 2018 American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in IImari'I Thomas and the 2017 AAC Newcomer of the Year in Shanice Johnson. Cincinnati posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2005 and earned a WNIT berth in 2018. Prior to UC, Lanier spent four seasons at Kent State, developing 2017 MAC Player of the Year and the Golden Flashes' all-time leading three-point scorer Larissa Lurken.
In three years in Beantown, Lanier helped Boston College to two postseason appearances including the 2009 WNIT semifinals. The Golden Eagles also recorded six top-25 victories during those three seasons. Carolyn Swords, the No. 15 overall 2011 WNBA Draft pick by the Chicago Sky, finished her career second in points and rebounds in BC history under Lanier's guidance. He also put together the 11th-ranked recruiting class nationally in 2010.
Lanier's first two assistant coaching stops in Division I were in the MAC at Akron and Ohio. He helped OU mark its largest turnaround in program history in a 20-win season in 2008-09.
Prior to Division I, Lanier had a successful run as the Head Coach at North Dakota State College of Science, where he was also the director of athletics. Lanier complied at 109-49 overall record including a program record 27 in his final season, led his team to three NJCAA Region XIII championships and won three regional Coach of the Year honors. He also had assistant coaching stops at the University of Chicago and Washington College of Maryland.
Lanier is a native of Derby, Conn. and a 1993 graduate of Southern Connecticut State with a bachelor's degree in physical education.He later received his master's degree in psychology from Washington College. He and his wife Kim have a daughter Madison.
